Index and signal



g- 4, 1931- LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS 1,817,564

INDEX AND SIGNAL Filed Nov. 14, 1927 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES LE ROI. E. HUTGHINGS,

OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 REMINGTON RAND INC.,

01 TONAWANDA, NEW YORK Tunnx AND SIGNAL Application ma November 14, 1927. Serial Two/233,045.

This invention relates to improvements in visible index equipment and particularly to an index device and signal having a special cooperation.

This invention is designed to improve visible indexes by providing a series of cards mounted in visible indexed relation having sheaths enclosin the visible margins of the cards, and slida ly supporting signal strips for slidable movement along the margins of the cards, which are slotted to receive a portion of the signal strip, so that the signal will have cooperation with the card in signalling activity in the file. The slotted portions of l the cards are in aligned relation in the index so that corresponding ends of the signals are concealed from view from each side of the card, so that the exposed portion of the signal for each card may be varied by sliding the signal along the margin of the card whereby the exposure of the signal forms the signalling factor for each card, all of the signals in the file being visible.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a signal formed to provide a handle so that it may be conveniently moved in the sheath and which is also formed for inter-fitting cooperation with the sheath to normally prevent detachment of the signal from the sheath.

The invention includes numerous other objects residing in the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts for carrying out the invention, all of which are more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description and claims, it being understood however, that various changes in the size, sha e and relation of the parts may be made wit out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part out this ap plication:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a panel member in which are mounted a plurality of holders in visible indexed relation and showing the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the free end of one of the holder cards showing the manner of mounting the sheath thereon.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of one of the holder Fig. 5 is a v1ew of the opposite side of one of the holder cards from that shown in Fig. 1

showing how the margin enclosed by the sheath appears when it is moved upwardly about its hinged mounting on the panel.

Fig. 6 is a perspective showing the construction ofa record card.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the strip signal as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of a slightly different form of signal used in connection with this index.

A panel of the usual form used with visible index equipment is indicated at 1 which is usually provided at the opposite sides with flanges 2 forming guide-ways for slidably receiving the ends of the supporting bars 3. The bars 3 are of a width equal to the exposure desired for the margins of the record cards in order to properly space the cards supported thereby in the usual and wellknown manner. ny form of supporting bar and spacing means for spacing the holder cards may be used as is now employed in constructions of this type, the structure shown being merely for the purpose of illustration.

A holder card 4 has a strip portion 5 at one margin thereot connectedto the remaining portion of the card through the hinge connection form-ed by the perforations 6. The strip portion 5 is secured to the bar 3 in any suitable manner well-known in the art, such as by the wire stitches 7. With this construction, the holder card will be movable on the hinge connection 6 relative to the supporting bar so that either side may be exposed and the plurality of cards in a panel will lie in overlapped relation with one free margin exposed. The free margins of these holder cards are each provided with a recess 8 in the central ortion and cut-away corners 9 at the ends 0 the free margin. A transparent sheath 10. is folded longitudinally in its central portion at 11 and encloses the free margin of the holder card 4. One edge of the sheath is folded inwardly as indicated at 12 to provide a shoulder along the inside of the sheath as illustrated in Fig. 4 for a purpose which will presentl appear. The other edge is secured to the holder card by the wire stitches 13 in the usual manner. The portion provided with the folded edge 12 is positioned at the front of the holder card over the side exposed in the normal position of the cards in the panel.

A record card 14 has the central portion of one margin slotted as indicated at 15 in Fig. 6. This slot extends inwardly from the edge of the card and terminates in a laterally extending slot so as to form a strip portion 15' which rides flexibly on a signal strip and permits easy operation of the signal. This slotted margin of the record card is inserted into the pocket formed by the sheath 10 at the front side of the holder card. The upper corners of the card are preferably inserted" through the slots 16 in the holder card which will effectively secure the record card on the holder card so that the slot 15 registers with the slot 8 'in the holder card. This slotted margin of the record card is normally visible through the sheath as shown in Fig. 1 and at one side of the slot 15 is provided with suitable indicating indicia 17 shown in Fig. 1 for cooperation with the signal 18.

The signal 18 comprises an elongated strip 19 which is slidably positioned in the sheath along the enclosed margin of the record card. The strip portion 19 is engaged through the slot 15 of the record card in the manner shown in Fig. 3, and may also extend through the recess 8 of the holder card. The portion at the front side of the holder card which is exposed to view through the sheath along the margin of the record card provides an eflicient signal adapted to be moved to expose a small or greater portion of the strip in accordance with the desired information to be conveyed by the signal. In the completed index, all of the signals are constantly visible and the slots 15 in all of the record cards are in vertical alignment so that the opposite ends of the signals are offset when they are in different signalling positions providing a novel contrast which makes any particular signal readil readable for the information it conveys. The varying exposure of the signalling strip also makes the activity of the various record cards readily comparable with one another and it also indicates the progress of the entire file.

Where these record cards are used, for example, for expense accounts, particularly where expenses are budgeted, the margin of the record cards may be provided with the indicia 17 indicating percentage so that the signal may be moved as the budget is used to indicate the percentage of the budget used and the amount remaining which is available. Where a number of items of this character are associated in a visible index as illustrated in Fig. 1, the relation of expenditures at any time during the o eration of the budget period can be rea 11y determined without referring to the record on the card. Where the signal strip extends through the record card and holder card as shown in Fig. 3, it will indicate on the back of each holder card as shown in Fig. 5, when the holder card is moved upwardly on its hinge from the position shown in Fig. 1, the opposite condltlon from that registered on the front of the record card. In connection with a budget system as above referred to, it will indlcate the proportion of the budget avallable for expenditure. In this way, the signals serve as a graphic illustration of the activity recorded in a file.

The strips 19 are formed at one end w th a laterally projecting strip 20 formed intermediate the ends with a loop 21 providing a handle portion which may be manually grasped so that the signal may be slldabl y moved in the sheath. The free end of thls strip portion 20 extends into contact w1th the intermediate portion of the strip where it joins strip 19 and the terminal portion is extended laterally to provide a lip 22 to engage under the shoulder formed by the inturned end 12 of the sheath as shown in Fig. 4 to normally prevent detachment of the signal from the sheath.

In addition to this signal 18, it may also be desired to use other signals for indicating certain features of activity in the file which may be constructed as shown in Fig. 8 and indicated at 23. This signal 23 comprises a strip 24 folded near its central portion to provide a loop 25 forming a handle while one end is provided with a laterally extending flange or lip 26 adjacent an intermediate portion of the strip for engaging under the shoulder formed by the inturned edge 12 of the sheath. This signal 23 is exactly similar to the signal 18 with the exception that the extension formed by the strip 19 to the left of the' handle portion as shown in Fig. 7 has been omitted. The opposite end of the strip 24 when applied in the sheath. eugages the fold 11 thereof When the portion 26 is interengaged with the shoulder in the sheath in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4.

These signals are preferably formed of colored celluloid so that they are readily distinguishable from the sheath and record card and so that they will contrast therewith. It is also desirable in some instances, to use signals which are semi-transparent in their colored form in order that indicia on the record card may be viewed through the sheath and the signal. This makes the information to be conveyed by the signal through its cooperation with the record card more readlly understood when the index file is viewed with the holder cards in the overlapped relation shown in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

1. An index device, comprising a card having a slot in one edge portion, a sheath of transparent material enclosing the slotted edge of said card, and a signal strip slidably mounted in said sheath and extending through. the slot in the card, the portion of the signal at each side of the card having signalling cooperation therewith.

2. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one margin, a transparent sheath enclosing said slotted margin of said card, and a signal slidably mounted in the sheath for movement along the margin of the card, and extending through said slot. the exposed portion of the signal at one side of the card having signalling cooperation therewith.

3. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one margin, a transparent sheath enclosing said slotted margin of said card, a signal strip engaged in the slot in said card and slidably mounted in said sheath, and a handle portion on said signal strip extending beyond said sheath.

4. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one margin, a transparent sheath enclosing said slotted margin of said card, and a signal strip engaged in the slot in said card slidably received in said sheath and having a color in contrast with that of the card and sheath.

5. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one margin, a. transparent sheath enclosing said margin, and a transparent signal slidable in said sheath, extending through the slot in said card. and having a color contrasting with that of the card and sheath for signalling cooperation therewith.

6. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed inone margin, a sheath enclosing said margin, and a signal slidably mounted in said sheath and extending through the slot in said card, said signal having a lateral extension thereon projecting beyond the edge of the sheath and formed into a handle to permit sliding of the signal in the sheath by manual operation of the handle.

7. In combination, an index having a plurality of cards mounted in overlapping relation, each having one margin thereof visible, a transparent sheath enclosing the visible margin of each card, each of said cards having a slot formed in said visible margin, and a signal strip slidably mounted in each sheath and extending through the slot in said card, all of said signals of said index being visible and having signalling cooperation with the cards in accordance with the portion of the signal exposed to view.

'each card, each card having said visible margin slotted in aligned relation with the slots in the other car 5 in said index, and a signal slidably mounted in each sheath and extending through the slot in each card, the signal associated with each card being independently movable along the margin of the card in said sheath, the exposed portion of each signal along the visible margin of said carrllls having signalling cooperation therewit 9. An index device, comprising a card, a holder for said card, a transparent sheath embracing one margin of said card and said holder and secured to said holder, said card having a slot in said margin, and a signal strip extending through the slot in said card and slidable in said sheath adapted for signalliing cooperation with the margin of said car 10. An index device, comprising a hinged holder card, a transparent sheath enclosing a free margin of said holder card, said margin having a slot formed therein, a card removably mounted on said holder card and having a slotted margin engaged in said sheath and enclosed thereby, and a signal strip extending through the slots in said card and said holder card and slidable along the margin of said card in said sheath, said sig nal strip having signalling cooperation on one side with said card and on the opposite side with said holder card.

11. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one margin, a transparent sheath enclosing said margin, and a transparent signal strip slidable in said sheath, extending through the slot in said card and having signalling cooperation with said card, said signal strip having a lateral extension at one end formed with a loop to provide a handle, the free end portion of said extension terminating adjacent one edge of said strip'in a laterally extending terminal providing a retaining lip for cooperation with the sheath to normally retain said signal strip in said sheath.

12. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one margin, a transparent sheath enclosing said margin, and a transparent signal strip slidable in sald sheath, and extending through said slot in said card, said signal strip having means formed on one end thereof for interfitting sliding engagement with said sheath for normally preventing detachment of said signal strip from said sheath.

13. An index device, comprising a card, a

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transparent sheath enclosing a margin of said card, one edge of said sheath bein formed with a fold to rovide a narrow strip on the inside of said olded edge to form a shoulder on the inside of the sheath, and a signal having one end enclosed by said sheath, having the central portion formed to provide a loop, and having the o posite end portion lying adjacent to the body of the strip and formed with an outwardly extendin guide lip engaging under the shoulder ormed in said sheath to normally prevent detachment of said si al from said sheath.

14. signal for an index device, comprising a stri having the central ortion formed to provi e a loop forming a andle portion, one end of the strip lying adjacent the center of the portion of the stri lntermediate the loop and the opposite end thereof, and terminating in a laterally extending guide lip.

15. A signal for index devices, comprising a strip of material havin one end portion formed to rovide a hand e, and having the terminal 0 said end portion provided with a laterally extending lip.

16. An index device, comprising a card, a transparent sheath enclosing a margin of said card, and a signal enga ed between said sheath and card, said sheat and si nal being formed for cooperation to normal y prevent detachment of the signal from the sheath.

17. An index device, comprising a card, a transparent sheath enclosing a margin of said card, a signal strip slidably engaged in said sheath, and means on the card for normally covering a portion of the signal, the uncovered portion of the signal having signalling cooperation with the card, said signal and sheath being formed for cooperation to normall prevent detachment of the signal from the s eath.

18. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one marginal portion, a signal engaged in said slot and movable I along said marginal ortion of the card while so engaged for signa lin cooperation therewith, and means for sli ably mounting said signal in said slot.

19. An index device, comprising a card having a slot formed in one marglnal portion,-a signal engaged in said slot and movable along said marginal portion of the card while so engaged for signalling cooperation therewith, and means for enclosin the marginal portion of said card and said signal.

20. An index device, comprising a card, a signal, and means on one margin of said card for slidably mountin said signal thereon with a portion exposed and another portion concealed, the exposed portion being variable by sliding of the signal for signalling cooperation wlth the margin of said card.

LE ROI E. HUTOHINGS. 

